Excavation Manager

S.C. Swiderski • Mosinee, WI

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Excavation Manager is a senior field and operational leadership role responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing all excavation and site-preparation activities across SC Swiderski’s single-family and multi-family residential construction portfolio. This role provides strategic oversight of excavation operations while maintaining a strong field presence to ensure safety, quality, schedule adherence, and cost control. The Excavation Manager leads the Excavation Foreman, Heavy Equipment Operators, and excavation labor resources, and partners closely with Construction Managers, Site Superintendents, Project Managers, and Safety leadership. This position plays a critical role in aligning earthwork operations with SCS’s Mission, Vision, and Values of Quality, Trust, Integrity, Community, and Innovation.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Construction, or related field preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive excavation and heavy equipment experience, including 5+ years in a supervisory or management capacity.
• Extensive experience in multi-family residential or large-scale residential site development.
• Expert knowledge of excavation methods, earthmoving techniques, and site logistics.
• Advanced proficiency operating and supervising excavation equipment (excavators, dozers, loaders, skid steers, graders).
• Strong understanding of construction sequencing and integration with vertical construction.
• Ability to read and interpret civil drawings, blueprints, and specifications.
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and construction reporting tools.
• High level of adaptability, problem-solving ability, and operational judgment
• Must be able to travel between job sites in Wisconsin.
• Must be available for regular in-state travel, with occasional overtime or overnight stays depending on job site location.
• Ability to climb ladders and work at various heights
• Comfortable working on multi-story buildings and active construction sites
• Tolerance for outdoor work in all seasons and weather conditions.
• Must be able to manage multiple job sites and travel between them daily as needed
• Must be willing to work occasional evenings or weekends based on project deadlines or emergencies

Nice To Haves

• A Sewer & Water Plumbers license is helpful.
• CDL (Class A or B) with experience transporting heavy equipment is preferred
• OSHA 30 certification required (or ability to obtain within 180 days).
• Experience with Trimble Earthworks or similar civil GPS geolocation software

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership, direction, and accountability for all excavation and earthwork operations across active projects.
• Provide bids to Project Management Team for Project Excavation Projects, Review bids from Excavation subcontractors when we use subcontractors for our projects.
• Develop and execute excavation schedules aligned with master construction schedules.
• Coordinate excavation sequencing with Construction Managers, Project Managers, and Site Superintendents.
• Standardize excavation best practices, workflows, and productivity benchmarks across projects.
• Proactively identify risks related to soil conditions, weather, utilities, or site access and implement mitigation strategies.
• Oversee grading, excavation, trenching, foundations, utilities, erosion control, and site development activities.
• Review and interpret civil plans, cut/fill plans, utility layouts, and grading specifications.
• Ensure excavation work meets engineering requirements, compaction standards, and quality expectations.
• Provide advanced technical guidance on complex excavation challenges.
• Support equipment utilization planning, logistics, and inter-site equipment sharing.
• Collaborate with the Safety Coordinator and Project Management team to ensure job site conditions align with OSHA, state, and local standards.
• Contribute to developing and refining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for field operations and quality control.
• Mentor and develop the Excavation Foreman, and Heavy Equipment Operators I, II & III, to build a high-performing, self-sufficient field team.
• Directly manage the Excavation Foreman, and indirectly the Heavy Equipment Operators I–III and excavation laborers.
• Set performance expectations, provide coaching, and conduct performance evaluations.
• Develop training plans for operators, including safety, equipment proficiency, and leadership readiness.
• Support succession planning within the Excavation team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and professionalism.
• Represent the Construction Department’s interests in cross-functional collaboration with Design, Accounting, Procurement, Maintenance, and Property Management teams.
• Act as a visible champion for SCS’s mission—building not just structures, but communities.

Benefits

• A competitive pay package, with company provided vehicle, an excellent benefits program, including health, dental, life, disability, 401(k), and paid time off (holidays & vacation), are offered to qualified candidates.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees